Stacking aid

ABSTRACT

A stacking aid for cylindrical containers comprised of a substantially rectangular framework having spaced openings therein adapted to receive a small arcuate portion of a cylindrical container so as to prevent movement of the container relative to the framework.

United States Patent Trebilcock Dec. 16, 1975 STACKING AID 3,105,599 10/1963 Hausermann 214/105 R 3,424,110 1 1969 T t 108/53 [76] Inventor: Lionel F. Trebllcock, 1788 Pleasant 3,521,764 7;197O gg 10853 X Valley Road, Glrard, 01110 44420 3,762,342 10/1973 Lawlor 108/53 x [22] Filed: May 18, 1973 [21] APPL No; 361,406 Primary ExaminerFrank E. Werner [52] US. Cl. 2l4/10.5 R; 108/53 [57] ABSTRACT 51 Int. E Q l Search 214/10 5 gg A stacking aid for cylindrical containers comprised of 'g' 22O/97 f a substantially rectangular framework having spaced openings therein adapted to receive a small arcuate [56] References Cited portion of a cylindrical container so as to prevent UNITED STATES PATENTS movement of the container relative to the framework.

2,827,302 3/1958 Skyrud 108/53 X 3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures DEHIHJQUEIDIIIDIIHIHID UCIIIHIHIIUUEIIIIIIHIHIHIICI EIIEHIHIIEIIIIDDIIHIHIIIIIIIIEII' IIIEIIIHIHIJEEIEIIIJIIHIJEIIIHII IEIUEJUUEUDEHIICZ B E E1 1:11:1[11] U r US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975' .4 W m4 T 6 2 5AJ/ m JVM mmmmm mqu Q @5555 m m @5555 EUGENE m w GUUDUSUU UO 3 A UUUEUUEU m B mmmmmmmm, F k ED555559 UDGUEEU O 5 EUGENE 5 GUESS 8 m QUEBEC P 2 DUDDDEEUUUD STACKING AID The invention relates to the handling of cylindrical containers such as barrels and the like. Specifically, the invention provides a device which enables such articles to be stacked layer upon layer for storage and transport.

Many different devices have been provided in the past but none has been well accepted by industry because of varied reasons such as cost, difficulty in storing and returning the stacking aids, and most did not function in a safe and certain manner. A recent device such as illustrated in I-Iausermann US. Pat. No. 3,105,599 has been well accepted by the industry. The present invention is an improvement of the device of I-Iausennann.

This invention provides a stacking aid which is formed from lightweight durable plastic so that it is handled easily. It is easily cleaned for long term usage. Means are provided on the stacking aid so that when not in use, they may be stacked for storage or transport and are locked together to maintain them in stacked relation.

It is an object of this invention to provide a support which enables a plurality of cylindrical containers to be placed thereon in horizontal position without danger of rolling off of the support and whereby a plurality of layers may be stacked one above the other.

This and other objects of the invention will be readily apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an end view of a plurality of layers of containers on their side with the stacking aids positioned between layers and under the bottom most layer;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the stacking aid;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the stacking aid;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the stacking aid;

FIG. 5 is a section view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section of one corner.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the stacking aid 10 comprises a substantially rectangular framework having a plurality of openings 12 placed uniformly adjacent each corner thereof.

Each opening 12 is of sufficient size so that a portion of the arcuate wall of the container C will extend therein as shown in FIG. 1. Also a portion of the arcuate wall of a container on which the stacking aid 10 is placed will extend into an opening 12. The framework is formed of a plurality of ribs 13 extending from end wall 14 to end wall 15 and a plurality of ribs 16 extending from side wall 17 to side wall 18 and perpendicular to the ribs 13. The openings 12 are defined by a substantially rectangular rib 19.

Each rib is formed with a substantially rectangular cross-section as shown in FIG. 5. The entire framework is molded as an integral member of plastic, perferably Polyethylene structural foam. With the construction of the framework as illustrated it may be molded readily with a two part mold. With the resulting simple molding process due to the formation of the framework, the stacking aid of the present invention may be produced at a reasonable cost and be competative with present devices on the market. The framework is strong and durable and capable of long term usage.

It is much lighter to use than the known devices and much easier to clean. When not in use, the stacking aids may be stacked one on top of the other to save space.

In order to facilitate stacking the devices of this invention, locking means are provided to maintain them in stacked relation. On opposite corners 20 and 22 of the framework small upright posts 24 and 26 are provided extending from the upper surface thereof. At alternate comers 28 and 30 bores 32 and 34 are provided in the upper surface of the framework and are slightly larger than the posts 20 and 22.

Also at the corners 20 and 22 bores 36 and 38 are provided extending into the bottom surface of the framework. On the bottom surface of the comers 28 and 30, posts 40 and 42 are provided. All of the posts are of the same size. The bores also are identical in size and slightly larger than the posts so that the posts may be inserted into the bores when the devices are stacked one on top of the other to lock them in stacked relationship.

By placing the posts and bores in the manner described above, the posts and bores of the stacking aids will always interfit regardless which surface is up or down.

From the foregoing description it will be readily apparent that the present invention provides a means to facilitate the stacking and handling of cylindrical containers.

Although the present invention has been described with particular reference to the specific details of a certain embodiment thereof, it is not intended that such details shall be regarded as limitations upon the scope of the invention except insofar as included in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A support for stacking cylindrical containers laying on their sides comprised of a framework having a top surface identical to the bottom surface, said framework comprising sidewalls and endwalls, a first plurality of ribs extending between said sidewalls, a second plurality of ribs extending between said endwalls forming openings therebetween, said endwalls, sidewalls, and ribs being molded as an integral unit from a plastic material and having rectangular cross sections with the long axis thereof extending perpendicular to the top and bottom surfaces, and means adjacent each corner defining a rectangular opening substantially larger than the openings between said ribs adapted to receive a portion of the sidewall of a container to maintain the container stationary relative to the support, locking means adjacent each corner thereof for locking a plurality of said supports together when stacked one on top of the other, and said locking means comprises a series of immovable posts and bores alternately positioned around the framework corners.

2. A support as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plastic is polyethylene structural foam.

3. A support as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bores and posts areprovided on both the upper surface and the lower surface of the framework. 

1. A support for stacking cylindrical containers laying on their sides comprised of a framework having a top surface identical to the bottom surface, said framework comprising sidewalls and endwalls, a first plurality of ribs extending between said sidewalls, a second plurality of ribs extending between said endwalls forming openings therebetween, said endwalls, sidewalls, and ribs being molded as an integral unit from a plastic material and having rectangular cross sections with the long axis thereof extending perpendicular to the top and bottom surfaces, and means adjacent each corner defining a rectangular opening substantially larger than the openings between said ribs adapted to receive a portion of the sidewall of a container to maintain the container stationary relative to the support, locking means adjacent each corner thereof for locking a plurality of said supports together when stacked one on top of the other, and said locking means comprises a series of immovable posts and bores alternately positioned around the framework corners.
 2. A support as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plastic is polyethylene structural foam.
 3. A support as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bores and posts are provided on both the upper surface and the lower surface of the framework. 